Combination sofa, table, and chair



June 20, 1939. A. OLSEN COMBINATION SOFA, TABLE, AND CHAIR Filed Nov. 29 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Hxm. OLSEN m myzm iz ATTORN EYS June 20, 1939. OLSEN 2,163,349

COMBINATION SOFA, TABLE. AND CHAIR Filed Nov. 29, 1957 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 f 2 m h.

Axial. 01.55"

INVENTOR ATTO RN EYS Patented June 20, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 6 Claims.

This invention relates to a novel article of furniture, such as a davenport, settee, sofa or the like, and more particularly, to furniture of this type having auxiliarypieoes of furniture, such as tables, chairs, etc., wholly or partially concealed within parts of said sofa or sofa-like structure.

It is among the major objects of the present invention to provide a novel sofa .or sofa-like structure of the type indicated wherein means are provided in the ends-of said sofa for receiving and concealing a plurality of auxiliary articles of furniture such as tables, chairs and the like,.in a manner whereby-the latter can be quickly and easily arranged in useful position.

It is also a major object of the present inven tion to provide a sofa structure of the type hereinbefore referred towherein the articles of furniture positioned within the ends of the sofa are arranged in a manner such that the bulk of the end: pieoesis notsubstantially increased.

It is a feature of the device according to the present inventionv that at least eight chairs in addition to two tablescan be concealed in the arms'or ends of the sofa without materiallyaltering the size orexterior design thereof.

The invention willbe fully, and comprehensive- 1y understood from av considerationof the fol.- lowing detailed description when read in connection with the accompanying drawings which form part ofthe application.

nthe drawin s: 1

:Fig. lris aperspective view of a preferred embodiment of the present invention showing a table and one chair in phantom and in extended po t n;

Fig. 2.is a side elevational view. of the internal parts of the sofa end illustrated in Fig. 1, with certain parts broken away for clearness;

Fig. 3 is substantially a vertical sectional view of Fig. 2, taken along the line 3 3; and

Figs. 4 and 5 are detailed views of portions of the structure illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3, respectively.

Referring now to the illustrated embodiment 5 of the present invention, the sofa generally designated by the numeral It? comprises a longitudinal seat portion l I supported by end pieces l2 and I3 and having a back [4 materially as shown in Fig. 1. The end pieces l2 and 13 comprise substantially hollow shells of essentially rectangular cross-section and areprovided in the front portion with separable closure-members l5 andlfi which can be-disassociatedfrom the position shown in Fig. 1. to-assume the extended positionshowninphantomdnFigh1" or: in full line in Fig. 3, but which, when not in extended position, blend and cooperate with the design of the end pieces to produce an ornamental andattractive whole.

For purposes of clearness, oneof the sofa end 5 portions will be hereinafter described, but it. is to be clearly understood that both portions may be arranged in similar manneror in substantially similar manner.

Referring now to the end piece generally des- 10 ignated at 13, it will be noted thatthe front portion thereof, 16, is fixedly attached to and carried upon a substantially U-shaped bracket arm generally indicated by ll, the other end of said U-shaped member being provided with wheels 15 it near the bottom thereof adapted to roll upon the lower portion 19 of theendpiece [3, whereby sliding movement of the ,U-shape and its associatedmembersis at least not inhibited. A crosspiece 20, fixedly attached to the upper ends of 20 the .U-shaped member ll, isprovided with cutaway portions in the side parts thereof adapted to receive the upper portions of the table leaves 2|, and 22, comprising the table generally designated at 2;3, said leaves being movably attached 25 to said cross-piece by means including the hinges 2,4 and 25. whereby said leaves can be readily disposed in either raised position as shown in phantomin Fig. 1, or in lowered position as illustrated in Fig. 2.. 39

It will be noted that when the table leaves 21 and. 22 are folded downwardly in substantially the manner indicated in full line in Fig. 3, that the U.-shapecl structure ll carrying the table leavesand associated memberscan be easily and 35 facilely inserted Within the hollow portion of the sofa arm 13 substantially as shown.

When the U-shaped andits associated members have.v been movedloutwardly to assume the position shown in phantom in Fig. 1, and them leaves 2,] and 22 are ,moved upwardly, means, generally designated at 26, function to assist in maintaining thetable leaves in substantially horizontal position. The supportingmembers 26 preferably comprise apair of'slidingbar-like ele- 45 ments 2T and: 28 associated with each other by means including thebands 29,-and 30,.said bands being attached to the members?! and 28, respectively, whereby Sliding movement of the members is permitted but other relative movement 50 is precluded. It will further be, noted that when the sliding members are moved relative to each other as aforesaid, the bands uponoccasion engage with each other thereby serving to at least assist 1. in lim tin th r at v rmq ment- E The table-leaf supporting members 28 are attached by means including hinges 3| to portions of the table leaves 2| and 22 and the cooperating members 21 are attached to a portion of the cross-piece of the U-shaped element I! by hinges 32. It will be noted that as the leaves 2| and 22 are moved from their folded position relative to the U-shaped element, that the members 21 and 28 will be caused to slide relative to each other and when the table leaves are disposed in substantially horizontal position, the members 21 and 28 assume the relationship illustrated in phantom in Fig. 3, the respective parts being maintained in this position by means including a spring catch generally designated at 33.

Referring to Fig. 5, wherein a detailed view of the said spring catch is shown, it will be noted that a bent piece 34, retained within a cutaway portion of the member 21 is adapted to engage with a spring-pressed pivoted hook or latch element 35 carried in a recess formed in the end part of the member 28, substantially as shown. A portion of the hook or latch formed to provide small lever arms 36 facilitates actuation of the latch when it is desired to lower the table leaf or leaves.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention herein illustrated, the space determined by the table leaves and the sides of the U-shaped member can be utilized to store and, if desired, detachably hold a plurality of folded collapsible chairs such as are generally designated at 31 and .38, substantially as shown in Fig. 2.

It is preferred that these or similar articles of auxiliary furniture be receivable upon pivoted U-shaped elements 39 and 4!! which, in the illustrated embodiments of the present invention, are mounted upon portions of the large U-shaped member H and blocks positioned on the lower portion of said member, one of which is designated as 4|. The auxiliary furniture is provided with members 42 adapted to cooperate with and receive the pivoted U-shaped elements 39 and 40, whereby it will be noted that the chairs or other auxiliary furniture can be rotated into removable position when the leaves are raised but when the leaves are lowered are protected from engagement with the adjoining portions of the furniture. These details are substantially illustrated in Fig. 2, the detail of the attaching means being best illustrated in Fig. 4.

It will be noted that the device according to the present invention provides a novel means for including a substantial number of pieces of auxiliary furniture within portions of a sofa or sofa-like structure whereby, if it is desired, and conditions Warrant, the number of pieces of furniture in the room can be largely augmented, whereas, under other conditions, the auxiliary furniture can be concealed from view, without material alteration of the design or size of the sofa. It is further to be noted that the auxiliary furniture can be readily and facilely removed from its engagement with the primary object of furniture, thereby enhancing its utility.

It is to be understood that this improvement is capable of extended application and is not confined to the exact showing of the drawings nor to the precise construction described and, therefore, such changes and modifications may be made therein as do not affect the spirit of the invention nor exceed the scope thereof as expressed in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. In composite furniture of the character described, a primary article of furniture of the general type of a sofa, settee, davenport and the like, having upstanding essentially hollow end portions, a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture including foldable, collapsible chairs, means for receiving, detachably holding and substantially concealing said pieces of auxiliary furniture within the end portions of said primary articles of furniture, including separable front parts of said end portions carried on sliding members hollow and with open sides arranged within said end portions, table elements mounted on portions of said sliding members by means including hinge elements for folding there against into spaced parallel relationship, said sliding members being for receiving and removably holding a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture within the space defined by the table elements and the ends of the sliding structure whereby, when the table elements are in raised position said pieces of auxiliary furniture can be removed and when not in use can be stored within the sliding assembly positioned in the end portions of the sofa.

2. In composite furniture of the character described, a primary article of furniture of the general type of a sofa, settee, davenport and the like, having upstanding essentially hollow end portions, a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture including foldable collapsible chairs, means for receiving, detachably holding and substantially concealing said pieces of auxiliary furniture within the end portions of said primary article of furniture, said means comprising removable front pieces of said end portions, U-

shaped frames positioned with arms upstanding 2 attached to said front pieces adapted to he slidably received and concealed within the said hollow end portions, longitudinal cross pieces substantially fixedly attached to upper parts of said arms, table leaves attached to portions of the cross pieces, said leaves folding downwardly into spaced substantially parallel vertical position whereby the sliding assembly can be received and concealed within the said end portions, means for supporting said table leaves in substantiaily horizontal position, and means for removably holding a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture wthin the space defined by the downwardly folded table leaves and the ends of the U-shaped frame whereby when the table leaves are in raised position the pieces of auxiliary furniture can be removed and when not in use can be stored within the sliding assembly positioned in the end portions of the sofa.

3. In composite furniture of the character described, a primary article of furniture of the general type of a sofa, settee, davenport and the like having substantially vertical essentially hol- 'low end portions, a plurality of pieces of auxiliary low end portions, longitudinal cross pieces provided with cutaway portions in the sides thereof substantially fixedly attached to upper parts of said arms, table leaves attached by means including hinges to said cutaway portions of the cross pieces,.said leaves folding downwardly into spaced substantially parallel vertical position whereby the sliding assembly can be received and concealed within said end portions, means for supporting said table leaves in substantially horizontal position, and means for removably holding a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture within the space defined by the downwardly folded table leaves and the ends of the U-shaped frame whereby when the table leaves are in raised position the pieces of auxiliary furniture can be removed and when not in use can be stored within the sliding assembly positioned in the end portions of the sofa.

4. In composite furniture of the character described, a primary article of furniture of the general type of a sofa, settee, davenport and the like having substantially vertical essentially hollow end portions, a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture including foldable, collapsible chairs, means for receiving, detachably holding andsubstantially concealing said pieces of auxiliary furniture within the end portions of said primary article of furniture, said means comprising removable front pieces of said end portions, U- shaped frames positioned with arms upstanding attached to said front pieces adapted to be slidably received and concealed within the said hollow end portions, longitudinal cross pieces provided with cutaway portions in the sides thereof substantially fixedly attached to upper parts of said arms, table leaves attached by means including hinges to said cutaway portions of the cross pieces, said leaves folding downwardly into spaced substantially parallel position whereby the sliding assembly can be received and concealed within said end portions, means for supporting said table leaves in substantially horizontal position including pairs of bar-like members, one of each pair being attached to a table leaf and the other to the lower portion of the U-shaped frame, the members comprising each pair being slidably associated by means including bands circumjacent said members, means for holding said slidable members in a predetermined position relative to each other, and means for removably holding a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture within the space defined by the downwardly folded table leaves and the ends of the U-shaped frame whereby when the table leaves are in raised position the pieces of auxiliary furniture can be removed and when not in use can be stored within the sliding assembly positioned in the end portions of the sofa.

5. In composite furniture of the character described, a primary article of furniture of the general type of a sofa, settee, davenport and the like having substantially vertical essentially hollow end portions, a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture including foldable, collapsible chairs, means for receiving, detachably holding and substantially concealing said pieces of auxiliary furniture within the end portions of said primary article of furniture, said means comprising removable front pieces of said end portions, U- shaped frame positioned with arms upstanding attached to said front pieces adapted to be slidably received and concealed within the said hollow end portions, longitudinal cross pieces provided with cutaway portions in the sides thereof substantially fixedly attached to upper parts of said arms, table leaves attached by means including hinges to said cutaway portions of the cross pieces, said leaves folding downwardly into spaced substantially parallel position whereby the sliding assembly can be received and concealed within said end portions, means for supporting said table leaves in substantially horizontal posi tion including pairs of bar-like members, one of each pair being attached to a table leaf and the other to the lower portion of the U-shaped frame, the members comprising each pair being slidably associated by means including bands circumjacent said members, means for holding said slidable members in a predetermined position relative to each other, comprising a spring-pressed latch carried on one of said members engageable with a cooperating structure carried on the other member, and means for removably holding a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture within the space defined by the downwardly folded table leaves and the ends of the U-shaped frame whereby when the table leaves are in raised position the pieces of auxiliary furniture can be removed and when not in use can be stored within the sliding assembly positioned in the end portions of the sofa.

6. In composite furniture of the character described a primary article of furniture of the general type of a sofa, settee, davenport and the like having substantially vertical, essentially hollow end portions, a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture including foldable collapsible chairs, means for receiving, detachably holding and substantially concealing said pieces of auxiliary furniture within the end portions of said primary article of furniture, said means comprising removable front pieces of said end portions, U- shaped frames positioned with arms upstanding attached to said front pieces adapted to be slidably received and concealed within the said hollow end portions, longitudinal cross pieces provided with cutaway portions in the sides thereof substantially fixedly attached to upper parts of said arms, table leaves attached by means including hinges to said cutaway portions of the cross pieces, said leaves folding downwardly into spaced substantially parallel position whereby the sliding assembly can be received and concealed within said end portions, means for supporting said table leaves in substantially horizontal position including pairs of bar-like members one of each pair being attached to a table leaf and the other to the lower portion of the U-shaped frame, the members comprising each pair being slidably associated by means including bands circumjacent said members, means for holding said slidable members in a predetermined position relative to each other comprising a spring-pressed latch carried on oneof said members engageable with a cooperating structure carried on the other members, and means for removably holding a plurality of pieces of auxiliary furniture within the space defined by the downwardly folded table leaves and the ends of the U-shaped frame, said means including pivoted U-shaped members attached to portions of the frame cooperating with and received in openings in blocks carried on said articles of auxiliary furniture whereby, when the table leaves are in raised position the pieces of auxiliary furniture carried on the said pivoted arms can be moved outwardly and removed and when not in use can be stored within the sliding assembly positioned in the end portions of the sofa.

AXEL OLSEN. 

